The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW, Southeast Zone has disclosed that the centre has recovered and destroyed 6,000 illicit and obsolete small arms and light weapons from various areas in the country.

South East zonal coordinator of NCCSALW, Gen. Okechukwu Ugo (rtd), who disclosed this on Thursday in Enugu at a one day seminar on how to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons held at Carlton Swiss Grand Hotel, Enugu said the recovery of SALW had helped in ensuring that such arms do not get into wrong hands to carry out militancy and insurgency.

Ugo said that they had been doing all they could to see that the nation is freed from illicit arms by engaging in collaboration with regional and global partnership.

“As at today, the Centre has recovered and destroyed over 6,000 illicit and obsolete SALW from various security agencies and operational theatres around the Country. These recoveries and destruction exercises, which are in line with UN conventions, have contributed immensely to prevent the recycling of these illicit arms back into our society, thereby enhancing safety and security in Nigeria and globally.

“The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, realizing the need for sub-regional, regional and global partnerships in this fight against the menace of illicit arms, has engaged and continues to engage various international stakeholders in the field.

“For instance, the Centre recently hosted representatives of all countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to a two-day conference in Abuja to fashion out ways of sharing intelligence to ensure that cross border trafficking and illicit trade of SALW are checkmated.

“The Centre also participates in various regional and global fora on SALW under the auspices of ECOWAS, AU and UN regularly to ensure that Nigeria conforms to global best practices in this regard,” he said.

In a goodwill message at the occasion, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Hassan Dada, represented by the Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Gen. M. M. Abu said it was important that weapons are not left in the hands of unauthorised persons.

According to Dada, all hands should be on deck to recover small arms and light weapons from the society.

Enugu state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu, represented by Onyeamu Akame, while expressing dismay at the proliferation of illicit arms in the country, cautioned that the political class should desist from arming the youths to execute elections.